Brisbane City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to building a bridge between Toowong and West End despite approving a development on land earmarked for the site.
Key points:
- A three-tower development has been approved at 600 Coronation Drive, Toowong
- The plans are on the site of the proposed Toowong-West End green bridge
- Both Brisbane City Council and the developer say the bridge will go ahead
Greens Queensland MP Michael Berkman raised concerns the deferred green bridge project may be scrapped after Consolidated Properties Group's $375-million Monarch Residences concept, to be built at the old ABC Brisbane site at 600 Coronation Drive, Toowong, received the go-ahead from the council.
The development would consist of three 15-storey towers built among three acres of riverfront gardens with about 130 metres of direct river frontage.
In May, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he would pause some of the city's green bridges in order to fund infrastructure repairs after extensive flooding in February 2022.
But plans showed Monarch Residences's southernmost tower would be built over a parcel of land between Archer St and heritage-listed Middenbury House, where the Toowong end of the proposed green bridge was also slated to go.
Mr Berkman said there was a "concerning possibility that construction of the third tower could commence before council takes the necessary steps to acquire land required for the bridge".
He said there was also no indication how long the council anticipated the green bridges projects would remain on hold, something the council was not able to answer this week either.
"It is disappointing that council has approved this application rather than taking the opportunity to acquire the land for a much needed riverside park in a suburb experiencing quite extraordinary population growth," Mr Berkman said.
"Thousands of residents have expressed their desire for council and the state government to purchase the ABC site for a park, and it is regrettable that both levels of government have declined repeated requests from me and the community to fund this."
Consolidated Properties Group (CPG) Head of Residential James MacGinley said the company expected the plan for the third tower would be cancelled to make way for the Toowong to West End Green Bridge landing point.
"Consolidated Properties Group and Council are in active communication regarding the proposed green bridge," he said.
Mr MacGinley said more than 300 people had registered interest for a sales launch later this year.
He said 85 per cent of those were Brisbane residents.
Funds ready for acquisition
Brisbane City Council's transport committee chairman Ryan Murphy said the 600 Coronation Drive project would have "no impact on our plans to deliver a green bridge between West End and Toowong".
"Council has been in ongoing discussions with the owners of 600 Coronation Drive, Toowong, for more than two years to ensure the property owner is aware of the potential land requirement for construction of the Toowong to West End Green Bridge," he said.
"Indeed, funds have been set aside to progress land acquisition at this site this financial year.
"Plans for the two West End green bridges have been temporarily paused while we focus on Brisbane's rebuild and recovery, which is expected to cost council more than $330m.
"We're excited about the opportunity to attract more state and federal funding so we can deliver these projects sooner, with our green bridges program listed on Infrastructure Australia's priority list just last month."